What's Going On With 91.5 FM In Montgomery

[R.D.P.]

Just noticed in the FCC database, this station is now rebroadcasting WXFX 95.1 FM Prattville/Montgomery and now has an application to up their power to 250 watts.

What happened to the WAY FM broadcast? Have they left from this spot? ???

Inquiring minds would love to know.

R.D.P. <><

 

[tomservo]

Curious, indeed.

I was not aware a translator in the noncomm band could rebroadcast a commercial station.

It doesn't appear to be reflected in the FCC's data, but the translator application is seeking a move to 102.3 MHz, which is WHHY's 2nd adjacent. That's not news to me except that WHHY's transmitter tower is like 150 feet from where this thing is located (it and WXFX are apparently on the same tower.)

If this keeps up I'll have to pass the moniker of "Translator City" from Huntsville to the Gump!

 

[StrayKats]

I had forgotten, but when I was driving back from Mobile on Thursday scanning the dial, I picked up 91.5 about 20 miles SW of Montgomery, but it was not the WAY-FM broadcast, it was simulcasting Faith Radio 89.1. I know they have lots of simulcast translators but I knew of none in the area (or any in need that close to Montgomery as 89.1 puts out a full signal at least 40 miles in each direction.) I'm not sure why WXFX would need a translator, unless they are planning on putting one of the co-owned AMs (WMSP 740, WNZZ 950, or WLWI 1440) - and again I don't think those would "play" in the noncomm band.

I wonder if WHHY-FM is planning on reducing power, although I would know of no reason why.

 

[passtheword]

I had forgotten, but when I was driving back from Mobile on Thursday scanning the dial, I picked up 91.5 about 20 miles SW of Montgomery, but it was not the WAY-FM broadcast, it was simulcasting Faith Radio 89.1. I know they have lots of simulcast translators but I knew of none in the area (or any in need that close to Montgomery as 89.1 puts out a full signal at least 40 miles in each direction.) I'm not sure why WXFX would need a translator, unless they are planning on putting one of the co-owned AMs (WMSP 740, WNZZ 950, or WLWI 1440) - and again I don't think those would "play" in the noncomm band.

I wonder if WHHY-FM is planning on reducing power, although I would know of no reason why.

The 91.5 you probably heard is Faith Radio's WSTF, licensed to Andalusia.

 

[w9wi]

I had forgotten, but when I was driving back from Mobile on Thursday scanning the dial, I picked up 91.5 about 20 miles SW of Montgomery, but it was not the WAY-FM broadcast, it was simulcasting Faith Radio 89.1. I know they have lots of simulcast translators but I knew of none in the area (or any in need that close to Montgomery as 89.1 puts out a full signal at least 40 miles in each direction.) I'm not sure why WXFX would need a translator, unless they are planning on putting one of the co-owned AMs (WMSP 740, WNZZ 950, or WLWI 1440) - and again I don't think those would "play" in the noncomm band.

Yep, to my knowledge it's not legal for a translator below 92 to relay a commercial station. Nor is it legal for one below 92 to relay *any* AM station. (yes, there *are* non-commercial AM stations, though not many and to my knowledge none in Alabama)

One thing I believe they *could* do is change the translator frequency to 102.3, in the commercial band. It's a "minor change" to move to a facility that's mutually-exclusive with what you already have -- within 600KHz of where you are, or "IF separated" by 10.6 or 10.8MHz. The only such mutually-exclusive frequency that might work is 102.3. (the other two choices would be 92.1 or 102.1, but those wouldn't fly with WLWI and WHHY.)

Regarding "StrayKats"' comment about WHHY, they don't have any technical applications on file. (and for what it's worth, neither does WXFX. However, the translator does have an application on file to increase power to 250 watts at its current site.)

 

[tomservo]

One thing I believe they *could* do is change the translator frequency to 102.3, in the commercial band. It's a "minor change" to move to a facility that's mutually-exclusive with what you already have -- within 600KHz of where you are, or "IF separated" by 10.6 or 10.8MHz. The only such mutually-exclusive frequency that might work is 102.3. (the other two choices would be 92.1 or 102.1, but those wouldn't fly with WLWI and WHHY.)

Regarding "StrayKats"' comment about WHHY, they don't have any technical applications on file. (and for what it's worth, neither does WXFX. However, the translator does have an application on file to increase power to 250 watts at its current site.)

That change to 102.3 is in the application that was accepted for filing, but it's buried under exhibit 13:

Exhibit 13
Description: OVERLAP REQUIREMENTS

THIS APPLICATION SEEKS TO MODIFY THE LICENSE FOR TRANSLATOR STATION W218BG TO A NEW INTERMEDIATE FREQUENCY OPERATING CHANNEL AND EFFECTIVE RADIATED POWER ON THE AUTHORIZED LOCATION AND HEIGHT ABOVE AVERAGE TERRAIN. THIS APPLICATION ALSO MODIFIES THE OPERATIONAL STATUS OF THE TRANSLATOR TO THAT OF A FILL-IN SIGNAL FOR THE PRIMARY STATION.

AS SEEN ON THE ATTACHED MAP OF CONTOURS, CHANNEL 272 IS OPERABLE AT THE PROPOSED LOCATION WITH NO INTERFERENCE TO ANY CO-CHANNEL, FIRST-ADJACENT, THIRD-ADJACENT OR INTERMEDIATE FREQUENCY FACILITIES IN THE AREA. THE ATTACHED DIRECTIONAL COMPOSITE ANTENNA DATA IS PROVIDED TO DEMONSTRATE NON-INTERFERENCE WITH CO-CHANNEL CONSTRUCTION PERMIT BPH-20070122AIT FOR STATION WAMI(FM)CH 272-C1 FORT DEPOSIT, ALABAMA.

For some reason, methinkst this won't get approved.

 

[R.D.P.]

91.5 FM in Montgomery is wanting to move to 102.3 FM and upgrade to 250 watts.  For all the new details, visit this link: http://www.fccinfo.com/CMDProFacLoo...ry&sState=AL&tabSearchType=City+State+Search  Once you visit it, click on the spot where 102.3 FM is.

R.D.P. <><